“Corgi Approx 1/36 Scale Diecast 65102 – Toyota 2000GT – You Only Live Twice” (New In Box) The Cary Collection

Box Sz: 5″H x 7″W

Excellent Condition

The 2000GT made its most famous screen appearance in the 1967 James Bond movie You Only Live Twice, most of which was filmed in Japan. Two one-off topless models—fitted only with tonneau covers to simulate functioning convertible roofs—were made specially for the film. It is claimed that a targa had been considered to accommodate the burly 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in) tall Sean Connery. This retained the original car’s fastback profile but eliminated rear side windows. Purportedly, Connery’s head stuck out of the top and a roofless version was fabricated in less than two weeks for the movie. The car was only driven by “Bond girl” Aki (Akiko Wakabayashi) in the film.

Bond actor Daniel Craig voted the 2000GT as his favourite Bond car of all time. Using the 2000GT in the Bond Film was a very successful example of product placement, after the world had recently watched the 1964 Summer Olympics televised live by satellite and in color from Tokyo. Audiences wondered who built the car that raced through the streets of Tokyo, and once it was learned it was built by Toyota, visits to local dealerships increased, hoping to get a look at the car in person. The movie had its world premiere in London on 12 June 1967, and the car had only been introduced less than a month earlier in May. Film director Lewis Gilbert had originally intended to use a different car that had just been introduced, the Chevrolet Camaro. However, his friend Sachio Fukuzawa, a factory racing driver for Toyota, convinced Gilbert that a Japanese car should be used for a film taking place in Japan.